Determining the recreational value of tourist destinations is important because natural resources provide services that possess non-market values. They are considered as public goods, whereby society tends to overexploit and overconsume. In this regard, the valuation of four selected tourist destinations in Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines was determined. This study specifically aims to (1) estimate the demand function and consumer surplus of tourists, (2) determine the factors affecting the number of visits of tourists in every destination, (3) determine the tourists’ willingness to pay for entrance fee for each destination and (4) provide policy implications for local policy-makers and resource managers. On-site surveys were conducted to gather primary data. A total of 125 respondents were interviewed after selection through consecutive sampling. Using pseudo Poisson maximum likelihood estimator, results reveal that the recreational value of Buho Rock Resort, Lake Danao Park, Santiago Bay White Beach and Bukilat Cave in a year is PhP 617,468,921.00; PhP 199, 094,291.80; PhP 113, 304, 987.20 and PhP 408,021,345.90, respectively. These values can be considered as high recreational values implying the relevance of preserving and protecting these sites from overexploitation. Given these high recreational value estimates, the local government units and resource managers are suggested to formulate scientifically sound policies that will ensure the preservation and protection of the tourist destinations from overexploitation.

Climate change is considered as one of the pressing environmental issues in the world today, which influences several sectors in the economy, including agriculture. This study analyzes the perception of farmers on the impacts of climate change in Malinao Dam community situated in Pilar, Bohol. Data were gathered in three selected barangays (Estaca, Buena Suerte and San Isidro) from November to January 2014. Mitigating measures and adaptations in response to climate change were also investigated. Eighty percent (80%) of the respondents claimed that they have enough knowledge on climate change, which they mostly learned from their own experiences and observations. Some perceived causes of climate change mentioned by the respondents include burning garbage, cutting trees, burning forest and overpopulation. The main use of Malinao Dam is for irrigation but 90% of the farmers answered that there is no enough water for their rice fields, causing their yield to decrease and their lands to become unproductive. Adaptation measures mentioned include using new rice varieties, construction of water pump systems and planting drought-tolerant crops. Mitigating measures recorded include tree-planting activities, river clean-up, and solid waste segregation programs. Most of the respondents mentioned that the policy direction of the government may focus on continually educating the community about climate change. Furthermore, it is recommended that information drive, awareness campaign and capacity building activities should be done by relevant agencies in the grassroots level to encourage localized actions.

The coconut industry was heavily devastated when super typhoon Yolanda (internationally known as Haiyan) hit Eastern Visayas, Philippines in November 2013. This study aims to assess the impact of super typhoon Yolanda on the livelihood of coconut farmers in Leyte by determining the lost income of farmers from the coconut harvests after the devastation of the super typhoon. A face-to-face interview was conducted among 150 randomly selected respondents in Kananga, Leyte and Sogod, Southern Leyte. Difference-in-difference analysis was used to estimate the impact of the super typhoon on coconut production. Results show that the impact of super typhoon Yolanda translates to a reduction in coconut income by PHP 10,882.18 (USD 217.64) per hectare per cropping. The income of coconut farmers significantly decreased after the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda. Prices of copra, the main product of coconut, have increased by 21.93% after the typhoon incident because of the substantial reduction of production in Leyte. In response, majority of coconut dependent farmers pursued the replanting of coconuts after the devastation of the super typhoon. Considering the unprecedented challenges faced by small scale coconut farmers, it is recommended that the government and non-government organizations promote climate-resilient agricultural practices in coconut farming.

In teaching and learning mathematics, there are shortcomings and negative factors that result in the failure of students. Hence, this study was conducted to explain the main factors affecting the failure rate in mathematics courses at Visayas State University (VSU). This study uses a random sample of 151 students who failed mathematics courses such as College Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus. The different factors affecting the failure rate in mathematics were identified using a structured questionnaire. The students’ perception of learning mathematics and the students’ perception of a mathematics teacher were measured using a developed students’ perception questionnaire. Median and quartile variation were used to summarize the perception scores. Chi-square goodness of fit was used to describe the different factors if it follows a uniform distribution. The Chi-square test for independence was also used to determine the relationship between student’s perceptions and the factors affecting the failure rate. Results revealed that there were five main factors affecting the failure rate in mathematics that does not follow a uniform distribution namely: poor study habits (51%), negative learning attitudes (22.5%), social environment (13.9%), emotional problem (7.3%) and financial problem (5.3%). The study shows that these students were interested in learning mathematics, but the quartile variation reveals that these responses were not consistent. On average, their mathematics teacher was rated as very satisfactory in terms of teaching strategies and the result was consistent with the quartile variation. Furthermore, results show that there is no relationship between the factors affecting the failure rate and students’ perception of learning mathematics. Also, no relationship is found between factors affecting the failure rate and students’ perception of a mathematics teacher.

Climate change impacts have been increasingly affecting the lives of many people, including women farmers, in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting adaptation to climate change impacts by women farmers in Brgy. Cabintan, Ormoc City. Data were gathered by interviewing 103 female vegetable farmers in Cabintan. The women farmer-respondents were mostly married with an average age of 40. The most common climatic hazards that they experienced in their farm were typhoons and drought. To be able to adapt to the impacts of typhoon and drought or heat stress, the women farmers employed several strategies, the topmost of which were: (1) plotting or mounding of land, (2) watering, and (3) water impounding. The significant variables that affected the women farmers’ decision to adopt the adaptation strategies to typhoon are farming experience in years, climate change awareness, access to agricultural extension, access to agricultural credit, number of children attending school, age, working hours per day, and number of years spent in school. In addition, the significant variables that affect women farmers’ decision to employ more than one adaptation strategy to drought or heat stress impacts are working hours per day, age, number of children attending school, number of years spent in school, and perceived future loss due to drought or heat stress impacts. It is recommended that the government should provide more seminars about climate change and its impacts and also about new and effective adaptation techniques that the Cabintan women farmers can employ in their farm.